First Italian edition of a dissertation on the priests and magistrates of ancient Rome, with 42 beautiful woodcut initials depicting sports, different professions, and pastimes. Until 1561, it was believed that the work was an ancient Roman text written by Lucius Fenestella, but it was actually written by the Italian humanist Andrea Domenico Fiocco (or Floccus, died 1452) in the 15th century. The text was later translated by humanist Francesco Sansovino (1521-1586). The present work is the first edition of this translation. It is of particular interest, however, because of the initial H on the recto of leaf 17 depicting Jeu de Paume, an early type of tennis, 11 years before the publication of the famous first book on various ballgames by Antonio Scaino in 1555.
The second work in this volume is the third Aldine edition of a classical commentary on seven Ciceronian speeches, written by Quintus Asconius Pedanius (9 BCE-76 CE) for didactic purposes. The present edition was corrected and printed by Paulus Manutius (1512-1574), the son of Aldus Manutius, who was a scholar who specialised in Cicero.
A contemporary ownership annotation on the title page of ad 1 ("Ioannes Allantophagus"), a later number on the title page of ad 1 ("4901") and ad 2 ("4902"), and a red ex libris stamp by Réjean Olivier on the title pages of both works, as well as on leaf 26 in ad 1, and leaf 72 in ad 2. The vellum is somewhat rubbed, especially on the spine, which has caused the manuscript title to fade. The title pages of both works are slightly soiled, the lower margin has been cut, affecting the ownership annotation, internally very clean. Overall in good condition. Ad 1: Edit 16 19087; OPAC SBN BVEE021557; STC Italian p. 246; USTC 829649; not in Adams; Ad 2: Adams 2058; Edit 16 3256; OPAC SBN CNCE003256; STC Italian p.59; USTC 811221.